Tuesday Update

Tonight I am sitting on my porch listening to an extremely LOUD thunderstorm. Goodness the thunder is just rocking our world over here. But I love that I can actually sit outside during a storm with the rain all around me and yet I'm safe and dry!


I am, however, considering calling up the Dog Whisperer to come talk some sense into Rocky. He has been freaking out for about an hour now!!

A few updates...the laziness has continued over the past few days. I wish I could work a little, then be lazy a little, then work a little more, then be lazy a little more. Unfortunately, once school starts I won't get to be lazy again for a very long time. :(


Also, still no word on Ashley's job. Today she said she was going to do "teacher-y" things in hopes of getting some positive vibes her way. She said she was going to buy some newly sharpened pencils and eat an apple and take my niece Bailey on a field trip. Haha!


She did take Bailey to Discovery Place, but unfortunately, it didn't change anything. :(

And, I have been connecting with SO many friends on facebook that I seriously haven't talked to since I was about 8 years old. I lived in Nashville, Tennessee at the time and went to Two Rivers Baptist Church and just this week, I have had about six people "friend me" who I knew back then! How fun is that???! I just love re-connecting with friends from my childhood. It reminds me of the sweet friends God has blessed me with through the years...some I haven't even thought about in forever! But when I see their name and friendship request, I get so excited to catch up with them! I have LOVED being on facebook!!


I watched the Bachelorette last night at my neighbor's house. I haven't really watched it much this season, but I've watched it enough to know I wasn't pulling for Ed! No thank you. I hope she is happy with her choice!


Ashley's boyfriend's mom sent me some homegrown tomatoes from her garden this week and they have been soooo good. I have made BLT's with them for the past two days! I used turkey bacon this time and it was every bit as good and not as greasy as regular bacon! I would highly recommend it.


Tonight I fixed oven fried chicken and mashed potatoes and lots of veggies. I also made one of our favorites...broccoli cornbread.


I had this for the first time when we were visiting Steve's family down in Mississippi and loved it. It is in his family cookbook now, so that's where I got the recipe. I thought I would share it with you!

Broccoli Cornbread

10 oz. chopped broccoli, cooked and drained
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick margarine
6 oz. sour cream
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into a buttered 9x13 Pyrex dish or iron skillet. Cook at 400 until lightly brown. Serve hot.

I hope you are having a good week! :)

Saturday and Sunday

We have had a very laid back weekend, really. Yesterday Ashley and I did some more wedding planning and shopping. We picked out her table linens for the reception and we decided to go with flower arrangements on most of the tables, but we will use those lanterns I showed you for the bar tables. I think everything is going to be really pretty!!

Last night we had so much fun having our Sunday School class over for a cookout. We truly have the sweetest couples in our class and I am so thankful that God has put us in there. We love them all. Unfortunately I didn't really take any good pictures. I just wanted to hang out and have fun without worrying about that. We grilled out hamburgers and hotdogs and passed around the new babies that have just been added to our class. I don't think anyone was holding their own baby last night!

Today was a nice day. Church was really good this morning. It seems like we've been gone so much this summer and I have missed being at church every Sunday. After church, we went to La Unica. Mark had to work, but the rest of us got to go. Here we are at lunch...(Steve was there, too!)


Looks like the little boy in the background was looking for someone! haha


When we got home, I was so tired, I took a long nap. Isn't that the best thing ever on a Sunday afternoon?? I think I am taking lazy to the extreme lately! haha I know I need to enjoy it while I can. Steve and I took a walk together this afternoon, so I did get at least a little bit of excercise in!

Tonight, Laura and Lindy had some friends over to watch a 3-D movie. I had to get their pictures in their cool glasses!


Please pray for Ashley this week. She is really hoping she is going to hear from one of the schools where she has interviewed. It is getting down to the wire and she hasn't heard anything. She is trying to be patient and trust God, but it is stressing her out just wondering if she will get a job! Thank you so much. Hope you have a great week!

Old Friends

I had such a fun time today! I got to eat lunch with three of my sweetest friends...Diane, Wanda, and Janice. I have known all these ladies forever...one even since high school! We have all gone to church together and about 10 years ago, we taught kindergarten together for three years and had the BEST time doing that. I don't think I have ever laughed as much as I did those three years. Every single day was fun working with them! I just love them all so much.


Today Janice (the one on the far right), had us over for a delicious lunch. She made a yummy chicken salad and a black bean salad. Then she picked some fresh tomatoes out of her huge garden. They were so yummy...they were the red and yellow ones that I love. She also made homemade blue cheese dressing to go on them. Mmmm! Plus we had fruit with a vanilla sauce on it for dessert. It was all so good.

We haven't gotten together in so long and it was so nice getting to catch up on everyone's lives. Three of us have daughters leaving for college in August and Janice has "been there, done that", so she was able to give us love and advice about how to deal with an empty nest. We talked about everything under the sun, though. I think we over there for about three hours just chit-chatting away!

I wish you could see her gorgeous backyard. Seriously. Her husband is such a handy-man. He has built such a beautiful stone patio and landscaped everything with lots of flowers. This is the stone fireplace he built outside! Isn't is amazing??


Tonight was Steve's sister, Debbie's birthday. We just went out for a quick dinner at McAlister's Deli and then we went over to his parents' house for cake and ice cream. Here are Steve and Ashley with Debbie and her daughter, Rebeccah.


Steve's mom with Ashley and me...


Steve's parents just got back from Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a little trip. While they were there, they bought this crazy puzzle. Ashley tried to figure it out all night, but nobody ever could.


It was a nice day. Tomorrow is going to be busy. We are having a cookout at our house for our Sunday School class. That will be fun!

Cloudy Day

We woke up to a very cloudy day today. Normally I don't really like those kind of days, but it was perfect today because I had alot of little projects to get done!

Did I tell you that our washing machine broke two days ago? We run our washing maching 24-7, so I'm not surprised that it finally died! Poor thing! So we have been washing machine shopping. We picked one out yesterday and it is coming tomorrow. Luckily, I had just finished tons of laundry right before it broke down. So today was my fold and put away day.


I also ran some errands. I went to Bath and Body Works to get some of those plug-in wallflowers and I found a new scent...creamy nutmeg. I had never smelled this kind before and it smells so good! I've got it plugged in right now.


This afternoon, I did a little bit of school planning. I know...can you believe that?? I just feel like August is going to be so busy so I am trying to get ahead a little bit.


While I was working on school stuff, I put in one of my Netflix movies...New In Town. It was okay, but I actually fell asleep while I was watching it and got in a little nap. haha One of the previews before the movie was for another movie called The Christmas Cottage. I don't know if it is any good, but it is about the life of Thomas Kinkade and how he got his start. I love his paintings so I thought that might be interesting. I actually have this painting in my bedroom.


I love going into his galleries and dimming the lights above his paintings. Then it looks like the lights in the painting are coming on. That is amazing to me!

Tonight we ate dinner out on our porch. I made talapia with mango salsa. Then Steve and I went to Baskin Robbins and got one of our favorites...a mint chocolate chip hot fudge sundae!


We had fun sitting outside and watching all the cute kids playing around us.

I heard Katie Holmes is going to be on So You Think You Can Dance tonight. I don't normally watch that show, but I would like to watch her dance, so I think I might turn it on. Is anyone else watching that??

Tuesday

My dog Rocky wins the prize for "barkiest" dog on the planet!! Oh...my...goodness. He is so verbal! He wishes he could talk so bad. He makes noises all the time. Sometimes it is funny, but other times it drives me crazy! Last night we had a thunderstorm in the middle of the night. He HATES thunder! Jack Russells are very high strung and he just freaks out whenever he hears thunder. Every single time it thundered last night(for about 2 hours), he would bark! Needless to say, it was a long night!

He also hates the vacuum cleaner. This morning I was trying to vacuum and he was just barking up a storm at the vacuum cleaner. His barking is so loud! I usually have to put him in another room just to vacuum the house. Goodness...he is a mess!


Ashley and Laura are gone this week to the beach with my brother Brent and his family. Ashley has been nannying for them this summer and they took her and Laura with them for the week to help out. Lindy stayed home since she was just gone last week. So, today, she and I tried a new restaurant that was just built near our house...Firehouse Subs.


I used to go to one near Steve's office and loved it, so I am glad there is one near by now. It was really good and we had fun hanging out together. Lindy is dog sitting for my parents this week while they are on a trip. So all I have at home this week is Mark! Our house is so quiet. Hmmmm...not sure if I like this! I need to get used to it though because it is about to be like this every day. Sniff sniff!

Tonight Steve and I had a date night. Here we are on our way out...


We used a gift certificate we had to PF Changs. I also happened to have a movie gift card, so we went to see Public Enemies with Johnny Depp. I really liked it. Johnny Depp is just the best "bad boy" ever! He plays John Dillinger in this movie and does an awesome job.



Okay...I need your help. Ashley is trying to get the centerpieces for her reception ready. One of her options is just to use fall flowers. But a friend of ours has offered to loan us 32 Pottery Barn candle lanterns like the large one in this picture....


They would be so pretty on the tables with little votives around them. But we are trying to think about what to put in them or around them on the tables?? We were thinking maybe acorns, berries, fall leaves, etc. Any ideas?? The wedding is in November. If you have any ideas or links, send them to me!! Thank you bloggy friends!

Recipe Blog Hop-Gourmet Pizza!

First of all, I wanted to join Kelly's blog hop today because anyone that knows me very well knows I love to cook and I always enjoy getting new recipes. I've posted lots and lots of recipes on this blog already, so I was trying to think of one I hadn't ever posted before that was kind of "summery".

I was thinking about some of my favorite summer foods and I would have to say that it is tomatoes...hands down! There is nothing like a yummy vine-ripe tomato in the summer, right?? So, my recipe today includes tomatoes with two of their best friends, mozzarella and basil!



This recipe is fairly simple and it makes a great lunch with a green salad on the side! My whole family loves it.

Gourmet Pizza

Pizza dough (I just use Pillsbury roll out dough--keep it simple!)
1 oz. fresh grated Parmesan cheese
2 T. fresh or 2 t. dried basil
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 cups mozzarella
1 clove garlic, pressed or diced
4 plum tomatoes, sliced

Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella on pizza crust. Combine basil, remaining mozzarella cheese, paremesan cheese, and mayonnaise and mix together. Add garlic to mixture. Slice tomatoes and arrange on pizza. Cover pizza with cheese mixture and bake at 400for 20-25 minutes until top is golden and bubbly.

Enjoy!

Oh...and this is not really a recipe, but I just so happened to try it a few days ago and it was sooooo good. Do you like bananas and peanut butter?? I love them both and especially together!


I was eating a Reese's peanut butter cup the other night and someone had left a sliced banana on the counter with only one bite left. So I popped it into my mouth with the Reese's cup and mmmmmmmmm!!!! That was really good!


I was thinking I should eat those together more often. You could even put them both on top of vanilla ice cream! I know it sounds a little strange, but try it sometime! :)

Go Pack!

We got some exciting news on Saturday night!

I'm not sure if I told you or not, but Mark decided not to return to the University of South Carolina this year. He really loved it there and had lots of good friends and was very involved, but with three kids in college, it would have required him to take out loans and he didn't want to do that. So he decided to apply to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) and NC State. He has always been an NC State fan. That is where Steve went and ever since Mark was a baby he has worn NC State gear and loved watching their sports teams, etc.

He was accepted to UNCC early in the summer, but it was taking so long to hear back from State that we thought that might not end up being the place for him. But Saturday night he got an e-mail congratulating him on being accepted! He was super excited and so was Steve! I just can't tell you how much fun Steve is going to have going to all the games and just enjoying pulling for the Wolfpack when one of his kids is going there! And Mark is thrilled. Raleigh is only about 2 1/2 hours away. He has lots of friends there and he can't wait to get there and start the new year. Now we have two Wolfpackers in the family!


Meanwhile, we have only one month to go to his orientation, register him for classes, and find him a place to live. Whew...I hope we can get it all done!

I have been busy today. This is the first week this whole summer that I have been home with nowhere to go, so I am trying to make the most of it. I did some yard work, laundry, got my nails done, and did some grocery shopping.

I found something kind of fun today...


The International School of Color and Design offers this quiz to help you find your interior decorating style. Mine was fairly "on target" I thought!

And, I can't wait to see this. It looks reallllly good!


Well, I am off to finish all my errands. I hope you are having a good Monday!

A Trip To The Far East

Steve and Lindy and I just got back last night from a fun trip to East Carolina University for Lindy's college orientation and to see Steve's sister, Angela. Angela lives in Williston, NC, which is on the Outerbanks. That is as far east as you can get in our state! Everything down there has such a distinct look and feel. It's almost like you are in the middle of a Nicholas Sparks book or The Prince of Tides. It's all very marshy with lots of boats and lighthouses.



The night before we left, Lindy and Laura and their friends went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter, so she didn't get to bed until after 3:00 am! Then we were up at 4:30 am and we left at 5:00. She tried to sleep in the car some, but she really didn't get much rest. So....needless to say, she was EXHAUSTED all day the first day at the orientation.

She met some really nice people and her roommate for the night was a sweetheart. After getting a good night's sleep, she felt much better the second day. We did lots of walking around and touring the campus and I felt like my brain might explode from all the information!

I am excited for her and just want her to be happy. I think she is feeling happy and nervous and excited and apprehensive all at the same time. Going to college is such a transition in your life!

The ECU mascot is the Pirates!


Lindy is that tiny little person on the left! :)


We ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant near campus...



After we left ECU, we drove a few more hours to Angela's. The day we got there it was her birthday! She showed us around her amazing garden. This girl has got a green thumb!! We picked some beans and tomatoes but the mosquitos were about to eat us alive, so we had to come in.


Here is Steve and Angela. He loves her!



Then we headed over to a friend of hers for a birthday dinner. The girl who gave her the party is an amazing cook and we ate like pigs. Shrimp, corn on the cob, squash casserole, carrot cake... It was all so good.

Angela's friend lives right on the water, so before dinner, some of us took a walk down to the dock.









There was the most gorgeous sunset while we were there.


Here is everyone singing Happy Birthday to Angela. She was sad that her kids couldn't be there to help celebrate. They are all grown up and gone, but she has a very sweet group of friends.




On Friday we drove into Beaufort which is such a quaint little town right on the water. We had lunch at a restaurant that overlooked the water.






Then we had fun just browsing around town together.














We got back very late on Friday night. It is a LONG way back from her house. I wish we lived closer!

Today I went shopping with Ashley to find me a dress for her wedding. It was my lucky day and we found one right away. And shoes, too!! I am excited about it and think it will be perfect.